Sadie Turns 2!

Two years. It seems like just yesterday but then again it seems like forever. Isn't that what we say about our kids when they are young and you are in the thick of it - running around, tending to their every whine and whim?!

That's how I feel about Sadie too. She definitely required much more attention than a "normal" puppy should and I'm not talking about eating stuff or behavior issues, I'm talking about her health issues that we've been dealing with since about 6 months of age. She has been a lot of work for sure. A lot of time and God knows a lot of money. But she has also turned into a really good and sweet and oh so cuddly big bear of a dog. All 100 pounds of her!

She's been through so much in her short two years of life (and never once did she act sick or hurt when she really was) that we really needed to celebrate her on her big day last week (Feb. 28).

First, I ordered her a Puppachino at Starbucks with my morning coffee. For those of you who don't know, Starbucks gives the pups a big dollop of whipped cream in a cup. Whipped cream is one of Sadie's favorites for sure. Next we bought her three new birthday toys that Hailey picked out especially for Sadie. That afternoon she chowed down on a few pup cookies which are also one of her favorites too and lastly we celebrated with another of her top 3 favorites - a glazed donut!

Sadie is our kids' dogs. And you can tell. She doesn't mind when Hailey lays on her (she's never known anything different). She loves when Austen plays with her in the backyard and when Peyton kisses her goodbye before she leaves for school. But what I love most about her is when she curls up on the end of the chaise on our couch and cuddles up for the night - happy to be surrounded by her family and have everyone home. I love that she crams herself into small spaces like under our kitchen table or below our feet when we are eating.

I can't believe at 2 she still prefers to sleep in her crate and that she's gotten really good at me recalling her. She loves to rest her head on the step down into our family room and watch us run around like crazy people at breakfast or dinnertime. She sleeps on the cool granite in front of the fireplace tucked in between the array of lanterns surrounding it - letting the cold air that sneaks in from the chimney cool her off. She does hate the sun and was panting halfway through our short walk when it almost reached 60 last week.

It's been a whirlwind 2 years with our Sadie for sure. I know the clock is ticking but I'm hoping for at least 11 more!